Page 126 of Waiting for Acceptance
“I am, yes.” I nod, and she smiles.
“That’s good.” She leans in closer to me, like we’re two friends sharing secrets and it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “I am honestly surprised to see you here tonight. Especially after the announcement coming out today.” My stomach twists uncomfortably at her words as she sips her champagne and I stupidly take the bait.
“What announcement?”
She laughs sympathetically. “Oh, dear. Well, it’s no wonder you’re still here.” I stand frozen, still unsure what she’s talking about, butverysure that I don’t want to see whatever it is. Apparently, she can’t read my mind though, because she pulls out her phone, clicks two little buttons, and turns the screen in my direction.
There’s an article illuminating much too brightly in my face:
New York power couple, Vanderbilt Hotel heiress, Jessica Vanderbilt, and soon-to-be real estate CEO at The Fitzgerald Firm, Vincent Fitzgerald to announce engagement soon, sources say.
There are multiple photos attached to the article, including a family photo of them with their parents, as well as one of just the two of them that I quickly realize is from the night of Fitz’s birthday. My face burns with embarrassment, remembering that was the night I showed up to surprise him. Was he there withher?
I read a little further.
The two have been photographed several times over the last several months, looking mighty cozy during Fitzgerald’s trips back home from managing acquisitions in other states. Company-wide takeovers seem to call for a little extra love when coming back home, and Vanderbilt clearly has plenty to spare for her hard-working fiancé.
I’m going to throw up.
“This is just gossip.” I try to argue, but then she scrolls down a bit, showing photos of them together in a coffee shop, more from Fitz’s Dad’s party, and another of them kissing on a boat. I can feel the warmth of the tears in my eyes as I see them together. Mr. Fitzgerald joins us, and while I think she might change the subject, she doesn’t. Making this feel like a complete ambush and less like a conversation of happenstance
“When are you going to realize that you don’t belong here, Ms. Long? My son needs someone who is more compatible with him. Someone who knows his world, and will be able to help guide him as he runs this empire. What can a sales agent fromsome small firm in Tennessee bring to the table for someone like Fitz? Jessica and Fitz are made for each other. He’s been with her before, and he’ll realize soon enough she’s exactly what he needs. Especially when he reads the contract stating the company will go to Frank unless he agrees to the terms of the merger for Vanderbilt Hotels and The Fitzgerald Firm. A merger that will, in fact, include their nuptials.”
He’ll lose his right to the company if he stays with me?
“If you truly care about him, surely you wouldn’t allow him to lose everything he’s worked his whole life for. Would you?” I regain my composure and straighten my spine as I look at them both in their smug faces.
“Wow. You both are unbelievably disgusting human beings. You can play mind games with me all you want, but I know Vince better than you think. He is by far the best person I know. He’s hard-working, loyal, kind, and he would never lie to me the way you’re suggesting he would. Our relationship aside, what kind of parents would manipulate their son this way and watch him give up everything he loves? Just to become just like the people who shipped him off to be raised by someone else until he was old enough to be groomed into whatyouwanted him to be. He ismorethan capable of running this company with or without a wife, he’ll probably do it better than you, if we’re being honest, yet you still make every effort to tell him what he’s doing wrong, instead of giving him the slightest bit of encouragement for everything he’s donewell.Shame on both of you.” I take a deep breath, seeing his mother turn a deep shade of red, meanwhile, his father just smirks, looking over my shoulder. I glare at him, then do the thing I shouldn’t do—I turn around. Just in time to see Jessica Vanderbilt and Fitz making out.
“Excuse me.” I don’t turn back around to face his parents before I slam my glass down on a table, marching towards the table they’re standing at.
CHAPTER 63
FITZ
I’m filing a fucking restraining order on this woman as soon as I leave this building. After what Frank shared with me about the article that came out this morning, and her cornering me at my mother’s birthday party, while I’m here with Lauren, no less, is the last straw. If I lose Lauren over this, I’ll burn the entire company to the ground, along with everyone who played a part in my losing her, inside of it.
“Come on, Fitz. You know you two won’t last once you’re back in New York for good. Just accept that this is going to happen. Everyone already expects us to be together, we make sense together, why can’t you just see that?”
“Jessica, I—” Before I can tell her to fuck off, or anything else for that matter, she digs her claws into the back of my neck, and slams her lips to mine. It’s forced, uncomfortable, and unwanted in every single way possible. I wrap my hands around her arms and pull her off me. My heart stopping when I look to the side to see Lauren standing next to us with tears in her eyes. I hear a noise come from Jessica, likely accompanied by a smirk, but I refuse to take my eyes off Lauren.
“Excuse us, Jessica. I need to speak with Fitz.Alone.” Her tone is calm and shakes me to my core.
“I’m not so sure I want to leave my fiancé with some random girl.” I open my mouth, ready to tear into her about how delusional she is when Lauren beats me to it.
“It’ll only take a minute.”
The fuck?
Jessica drags her hand slowly down my arm, Lauren’s eyes watching every movement before I shrug her hand off. Then she disappears into the party leaving Lauren and I standing in the hallway together.
“Fitz, what am I doing here?” Her eyes are filled to the brim with unshed tears, breaking my heart and infuriating me all at once.
“You’re here because you’re my girl. That wasn’t what it looked like, okay? Jessica came out of nowhere and ambushed me and… I swear I’m filing a restraining order against her when we leave here tonight.” The first tear falls down her face and she blinks more away.
“I don’t belong here, Vince. We can pretend all we want that I do, but you and I both know that I don’t.”
I grab her arms, ducking to catch her eye when she tries to avoid my gaze. “Yes, you do. You do belong here.”
